Money in Politics

"Hi, this is Congressman Doe, will you give me money or simply bequeath your estate to me so I can return to Congress?" 

Anyone ever given to a campaign only to receive an avalanche of fundraising letters?!  Why are campaigns so expensive?  Unlike former senatorial/presidential candidate Alan Keyes, candidates typically don't dip into them for living expenses.  The answer normally lies with buying air time for TV ads.  US Senators McCain and Feingold figured out the answer in their far sweeping campaign finance reform bill years ago. 

McCain-Feingold figured out that the public broadcasting companies don't pay for the spectrum they use.  So rather than ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX getting rich from candidates buying air time, they proposed either lower rates or no charges.  Some might argue this isn't fair but not paying for the spectrum that everyone else pays for isn't either.  Although the broadcasters wouldn't get as rich as they do, the pressure on candidates to constantly raise funds would be lessened considerably.  Maybe they might be able to attend to the people's business rather than trying to ensure their reelection?  Lofty goals, I know.  

The problem in seeing this come to fruition comes from the broadcasters' lobbyists.  They "rent" so many votes with all the money they give to Members of Congress that implementation is nearly impossible.  As good an idea it may be, money talks louder.  Doing the right thing doesn't always get a Member of Congress reelected.  The congressional grave yard is full of those who tried doing what was right only to be defeated during elections.  My only solution?  Term limits across the board.

That is right citizen legislators!  Members of Congress would be limited to three terms and Senators to four terms.  This equates to six years for House Members and 24 years for Senators.  Small states like Rhode Island, Delaware, South and North Dakota would argue they only gain power by reelecting their representatives so they gain seniority. 

This is true with Senator Daschle being a prime example.  I believe 24 years is enough time to gain seniority and give the small states an advantage without leaving their Senators there for life.  House Members have six years to leave their mark before being turned out for a new crop of Members.  With the lessened influence of old bulls garnering backroom deals, ideas like charging less for campaign ads might be realized.  Everyone wins here and we the voters get less phone calls and/or fundraising letters. 

Interesting how Congress cried for "do not call" lists as their constituents howled for help from the onslaught of telemarketers only to exclude their calls to homes.  Typical "do as I say, not as I do."